PM's wife in hospital
The Prime Minister's wife, Therese Rein, has been admitted to hospital in far north Queensland.
Kevin Rudd has confirmed that his wife was taken to the Cairns Base Hospital last night with stomach pains.
"Last night Therese began to experience what she thought were symptoms of a stomach virus," he said.
"She took herself off to Cairns hospital and she was admitted overnight and she's been attended to by the local medical staff.
"I was with her a large part of the night I was up there early this morning as well."
Ms Rein was taken to the emergency department and later admitted to the hospital for observation.
Mr Rudd says his wife's condition may be linked to a recent overseas trip.
"She recently climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and came from Kilimanjaro back to Australia and a day later came to Cairns to help me host the wives and partners of the heads of government, in the Pacific Island Forum," he said.
Mr Rudd was already planning to be at the hospital later today with Health Minister Nicola Roxon as part of his consultations on a possible federal takeover of the public health system.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says the Cairns Base Hospital is a prime example of a health facility in need of resources to cope with growing demand.
AMA Queensland president Mason Stevenson says Cairns has one of the busiest emergency departments in the state and among the longest wait times for elective surgery.